McLaren's Next Engine Partner?

[rev-erend]

HustleRussell said:

rev-erend said:

I'm not sure how long the current engine regs are supposed to last. Any one know ?

I'm not certain but I believe the current engine formula is agreed up until 2020, at which point it will have been reviewed etc and extended or modified for 2021 onwards

Thats not long enough to justify the cost vs return of a new blank sheet of paper design.

[thegreenhell]

The rule-makers will be discussing the post-2020 engines this year. They'll need to give a couple of years notice to the engine makers if there are going to be any significant changes away from the current rules.

[rdjohn]

thegreenhell said:

McLaren have made an exploratory approach to Mercedes about engine supply in the wake of problems with partner Honda.

Shock; horror!

I genuinely did not believe that would happen this year. But then those Manor engine bits are just looking for a customer.

I guess the end of the Oz GP would be the time to announce a split, if performance and reliability have not changed dramatically.

[HustleRussell]

rev-erend said:

HustleRussell said:

rev-erend said:

I'm not sure how long the current engine regs are supposed to last. Any one know ?

I'm not certain but I believe the current engine formula is agreed up until 2020, at which point it will have been reviewed etc and extended or modified for 2021 onwards

Thats not long enough to justify the cost vs return of a new blank sheet of paper design.

thegreenhell said:

The rule-makers will be discussing the post-2020 engines this year. They'll need to give a couple of years notice to the engine makers if there are going to be any significant changes away from the current rules.

the 1.6 V6T hybrid is probably here to stay, much of it will roll on well beyond 2020. Perhaps we'll see some standardised assemblies being adopted or components frozen gradually over time but I doubt the 2020 date will be putting any prospective engine manufacturers off- more the cost, declining viewing figures, potential for massive public embarrassment á la McLaren Honda etc etc.

[VolvoT5]

Andrew Benson (questionable source) is suggesting McLaren may have informally approached Mercedes already.

[Munter]

VolvoT5 said:

Andrew Benson (questionable source) is suggesting McLaren may have informally approached Mercedes already.

If I were McLaren I'd be informally approaching anybody with some interest in F1 engines.

[aeropilot]

HustleRussell said:

the 1.6 V6T hybrid is probably here to stay, much of it will roll on well beyond 2020. Perhaps we'll see some standardised assemblies being adopted or components frozen gradually over time but I doubt the 2020 date will be putting any prospective engine manufacturers off- more the cost, declining viewing figures, potential for massive public embarrassment á la McLaren Honda etc etc.

I can't see there being any prospective new engine maker appearing on the horizon at anytime in the future.
Dieselgate has put paid to any future VAG involvement IMHO.
The only other possibility with a largely USA centric Liberty Media running of F1 is if they try to get a bigger USA involvement, which realistically would only likely mean a return of Ford. I doubt Ford are interested anymore though, unless they are paying close attention to the fact that at some point in 2018 season, their spot as 2nd in the list of most successful F1 engine suppliers will be overtaken by Mercedes, as MB are now only 27 races short of overhauling Ford. Although, if Renault have produced a much better engine for this year, and RB and Renault take a few wins off MB, it might be 2019 before MB overtake Ford, although given Renault are only 9 wins behind Ford, Ford could find themselves done in 4th place before 2020.
Despite all that, I'd be surprised if Ford ever return to F1.

[MartG]

aeropilot said:

I can't see there being any prospective new engine maker appearing on the horizon at anytime in the future.....

I'd tend to agree - Ford have stated several times they aren't interested, as have BMW, and I don't see GM doing it ( busy enough with Indycars ), and after the Honda fiasco it's pretty much 100% certain no Japanese company would dare. VAG are suffering the fallout of the emissions scandal ( though a Lamborghini badged engine... ), and PSA will be skint after buying Vauxhall/Opel. Porsche ?

[thegreenhell]

MartG said:

Porsche?

Porsche are part of VAG, and are pretty well tied up with WEC right now.

[hairyben]

MartG said:

I'd tend to agree - Ford have stated several times they aren't interested, as have BMW, and I don't see GM doing it ( busy enough with Indycars ), and after the Honda fiasco it's pretty much 100% certain no Japanese company would dare. VAG are suffering the fallout of the emissions scandal ( though a Lamborghini badged engine... ), and PSA will be skint after buying Vauxhall/Opel. Porsche ?

I dunno, most of these companies are all "not interested", and/or "never again" right up until the point they announce their arrival.

I'm suprised mclaren would be seriously thinking of leaving honda unless honda have already signalled to them the choice isn't theirs, not like mclaren are cash rich right now and the owners pockets can only take so much, unless honda are walking away while pouring in money a la brawn.

mercedes must be laughing their cocks off given mclaren parked their poor form pre-honda squarely at the door of not having "manufacturer team status". gonna have to stop making excuses someday lads.

[aeropilot]

thegreenhell said:

MartG said:

Porsche?

Porsche are part of VAG, and are pretty well tied up with WEC right now.

I could only see a VAG F1 program as a way of rebuilding the brand image after dieselgate (thus it would like be a VW badged engine rather than Audi, Porsche, etc), and used as a way of promoting petrol/hybrid tech to distance themselves from dieselgate.
However, with the sums involved in dieselgate legal issues, I think the funds to do F1 will be being used up elsewhere!!

GM wouldn't touch F1 with a bargepole, and Toyota will not be going there again either.

[glazbagun]

PSA pulled their LeMans project due to the costs, I thought. They must have a deep sofa to buy Opel!

[VolvoT5]

Munter said:

If I were McLaren I'd be informally approaching anybody with some interest in F1 engines.

Scuderia McLaren?

Seriously though, Merc is there only realistic option because Ferrari aren't going to give them an engine and the Renault engine isn't great either.

Edited by VolvoT5 on Thursday 16th March 19:48

[Vaud]

VolvoT5 said:

Scuderia McLaren?

Seriously though, Merc is there only realistic option because Ferrari aren't going to give them an engine and the Renault engine isn't great either.

McLaren-Alfa? With a year old Ferrari engine?

[anonymous-user]

MartG said:

I'd tend to agree - Ford have stated several times they aren't interested, as have BMW, and I don't see GM doing it ( busy enough with Indycars ), and after the Honda fiasco it's pretty much 100% certain no Japanese company would dare. VAG are suffering the fallout of the emissions scandal ( though a Lamborghini badged engine... ), and PSA will be skint after buying Vauxhall/Opel. Porsche ?

PSA are buying Opel to save money, it won't be a consideration. They're not going to do F1 anyway.

[Vaud]

No manufacturer will enter until the post 2020 regs are clear.